We stand alongside our LGBTQ+ community in their fight for equality and acceptance. As one of the most diverse areas in the country, Waltham Forest is proud of its history as a place of welcome and inclusivity. Our diversity is a strength and source of pride.
Check out what’s happening this summer in Waltham Forest to celebrate Pride and how you can get involved.
Pride Month Kid’s Craft
Waltham Forest Libraries will be holding kids' craft sessions in all eight Libraries in June. Register a place through Eventbrite.
Waltham Forest Pride 2026
From 6 July to 18 July: a new community-led LGBTQ+ festival is set to launch across Waltham Forest this July, bringing together local venues, artists, charities, and residents for two weeks of events celebrating queer culture, creativity, and community.
Waltham Forest Pride 2026 will feature a borough-wide programme of workshops, exhibitions, film screenings, discussions, drag, cabaret, community events, and nightlife across Walthamstow, Leyton, Leytonstone, Highams Park, and Chingford.
The festival has been organised by the Waltham Forest Pride Collective in partnership with Walthamstow Trades Hall and local organisations, including elop, CADOS, Walthamstow Wetlands, Forest Cinemas, alongside local artists, independent venues, and community groups.
Upcoming events include:
- Opening and closing celebrations at Walthamstow Trades Hall
- A community photography and storytelling exhibition
- A queer botany walk at Walthamstow Wetlands
- Zine-making and art workshops
- Poetry and spoken word
- LGBTQ+ film screenings
- Drag cabaret and live performances
- Community workshops and discussions
- Family-friendly activities
Waltham Forest Pride 2026 is supported by Waltham Forest Council's Fellowship Fund.
Find out more and book tickets to events on the Waltham Forest Pride Collective website.
Queer Lives of Waltham Forest
Call for participants for photography exhibition, Waltham Forest Pride 2026.
The Waltham Forest Pride Collective is inviting people from across the borough to take part in a community photography project celebrating local LGBTQ+ lives.
The project forms part of Waltham Forest Pride 2026 and will culminate in a public exhibition across different venues in Waltham Forest.
Deadline for submissions is Tuesday 30 June 2026.
Find out more and make a submission on the Waltham Forest Pride Collective website.
Events and ongoing support
Residents can also access events and support by searching for LGBT events on the Waltham Forest Council website.
The Mayor of Waltham Forest, Councillor Marcelo Hart-Camus, is supporting the charity elop (East London Out Project) as one of their chosen charities this year. You can donate on the Mayor’s Just Giving page.
Let’s celebrate our LGBTQ+ community and their contribution to our borough.